State Board of Education Considers Social Studies Changes

By Bill Zeeble, KERA News

Dallas, TX – The State Board of Education this Wednesday discusses the Social Studies curriculum that'll be taught in Texas for the next 10 years. Some worry it's too conservative, pushed by far right trustees. But KERA's Bill Zeeble reports others say it's not, and it's right for Texas.

Proposed changes by the 15 member elected board that failed suggest, say some, a conservative, political agenda. They include the restoration of Christmas as a most important Christian holiday. Easter had been favored, because only one holiday from each of 5 major world faiths was to be chosen to illustrate religious celebrations. Now there's Easter and Christmas. There are still some 250 amendments trustees will consider this week. One would question the separation of church and state. Another would exchange the term capitalism with the words Free Enterprise System or Free Market System. Veteran State Board member Mavis Knight, from Dallas, says cutting the word "capitalism," which describes our economic system, is politically driven.

Mavis Knight: There's nothing wrong with the knowledge and facts that it's a form of capitalism, which seems to have some kind of negative connotation to the socially conservative board members.

Knight says discussions of social studies among conservative board members have been dominated by politics. She says that's bad for education.

Knight: We need to look at what are the essential things for students in Texas should know in order to be competitive throughout these United States. It's not what my political philosophy is or what your political philosophy is, it's what will academically best prepare students?

Jonathan Saenz, with the Liberty Institute, says Knight and those complaining about a conservative board are the ones playing politics. He defends the proposed amendments.

Saenz: Their job is to review the standards. So there's nothing political about carrying out your duties and trying to make sure the standards are done fairly and accurately. That's what you see the majority of the board doing.

Saenz says criticism of the proposed amendments come from what he calls the fringe left, who want liberal doctrines taught in schools.

Saenz: What's more political than that? It's become ridiculous how the fringe left will do anything to try to undermine this process.

State Board of Education trustees hear public comment Wednesday on proposed amendments. They vote on amendments Friday. Bill Zeeble KERA news.